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by Ranil Wijayapala

The modalities regarding the opening of the A9 Kandy-Jaffna highway is now being worked out to open the road on or before April 10, a spokesman for the Secretariat for Coordinating of the Peace Process (SCOPP) told the Daily News yesterday.

He said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has already instructed the relevant authorities to facilitate the process by constructing the cross loading point at Muhamalai in the Jaffna peninsula.

The Treasury has allocated a part of funds needed for the construction of this cross loading point and the Defence Authorities has been instructed to commence the construction of a structure at this point.

Support for the de-mining of the road in the uncleared areas has also been provided for the LTTE through the Norwegian facilitator, he added.

According to the ceasefire agreement reached between the Government and the LTTE there is no specific date for the re-opening of the A9 road.

However, article 2 (10) of the agreement emphasises the necessity of working out 23 modalities within 30 days of the 'D' day before the opening of the road for the free flow of non military traffic, the spokesman added.

These modalities are now being worked out with the Norwegian facilitators, the spokesman added.

According to ICRC the LTTE has already completed the de-mining of the road up to Paranthan to facilitate this process.

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